Pulmonary edema in a dog: causes, symptoms and treatment. Why does pulmonary edema develop in dogs?

Pulmonary edema is an acute pathological condition that develops as a result of a massive release of intravascular fluid from the capillaries into the alveoli, bronchi and connective tissue of the lungs, which leads to acute pulmonary insufficiency and impaired respiratory function.

Etiology of pulmonary edema in dogs

There are many causes of pulmonary edema in dogs. The most common of them are congenital or acquired heart failure (cardiogenic pulmonary edema), various kinds of injuries (bumps, falls, penetrating wounds of the chest), inflammatory diseases in the lungs (pneumonia, bronchopneumonia), allergic reactions (anaphylaxis, drug overdose) , intoxication of the body with liver and kidney failure, as well as viral and bacterial infections. In addition, cancer can lead to the development of edema.

Symptoms of Pulmonary Edema in Dogs

Symptoms of pulmonary edema in dogs. The condition is characterized by the following features:

tense and rapid breathing with wheezing, with rapidly increasing shortness of breath;
cough;
visible mucous membranes of the oral cavity and tongue become cyanotic (tissue cyanosis develops due to a decrease in the flow of oxygenated blood);
a frothy, sometimes reddish liquid may be released from the nasal openings during exhalation;
possible hypothermia (decrease in body temperature);
to facilitate breathing, the dog spreads its forelimbs to the sides, stretches its neck, opens its mouth;
the animal is excited, worried, groaning, may be frightened or vice versa aggressively.

Some of the above symptoms with pulmonary edema in dogs may not be observed.

Diagnosis of pulmonary edema in dogs

The most complete examination and accurate diagnosis of this disease, as well as its treatment, can only be carried out in a clinic by a veterinarian!

The diagnosis is made on the basis of characteristic clinical signs, auscultation of the lungs and heart.

During auscultation (listening) of the lungs, moist rales, weakening of vesicular breathing are noted.

An important and most informative step in the diagnosis is an X-ray examination of the chest area. An x-ray must be taken in two projections - lateral (the animal is placed on the left or right side) and direct (position on the back with limbs extended). X-rays show areas of reduced transparency of the lung tissue due to fluid accumulation. These changes can be unilateral and bilateral, diffuse and focal.

Fig.1 Pulmonary edema in a dog. X-ray lateral projection.

Fig.2. Unilateral pulmonary edema in a dog on the right. X-ray image direct projection.

To get more information about possible causes of swelling, your doctor may suggest an ultrasound of the heart. This is an essential step in the differential diagnosis and is often necessary to select the correct tactics for further treatment of the animal.

Treatment of pulmonary edema in dogs

Pulmonary edema in both humans and animals is an extremely life-threatening condition that can progress very quickly and lead to death. Therefore, it is very important to immediately contact a veterinary clinic at the first signs of respiratory failure and shortness of breath. The sooner this process is diagnosed, the greater the chance of a successful outcome.

Treatment of pulmonary edema is carried out exclusively in a hospital! The animal is given complete rest, oxygen therapy is carried out (constant access to oxygen in a special box or through an oxygen mask), diuretics, cardiac and respiratory stimulants are administered intravenously. In the case of non-cardiogenic edema, anti-inflammatory steroid drugs and saline solutions are prescribed intravenously.

In emergency cases, if necessary, the animal is performed thoracocentesis - removal of excess fluid from the chest cavity. The liquid obtained by this method is subjected to laboratory tests.

Forecast

The prognosis for this diagnosis in a dog depends largely on the causes of its development. Most often, with non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema and its timely diagnosis, the prognosis is favorable. In this case, it is important to eliminate the pathological factor, stabilize the animal's condition and prescribe adequate infusion and antibiotic therapy.

If we talk about pulmonary edema, which develops as a result of heart failure of various origins, then the prognosis here depends on the type and severity of cardiac pathology. But even in this case, timely diagnosis and adequate treatment tactics are important. If your dog is treated on time, and the condition is monitored by a knowledgeable specialist, the risk of relapse is minimized.

Pulmonary edema in dogs is considered one of the most severe conditions of the animal, and it is also very difficult to diagnose and treat. In most cases, it is impossible to save an animal with pulmonary edema at home.

The mechanism of edema

During pulmonary edema gas exchange is disturbed, the capillaries are filled with blood and exudate, subsequently flowing into the alveoli. In the walls of the alveoli, the amount of carbohydrates is sharply reduced, which further disrupts gas exchange in the lungs. It leads to release of large amounts of chlorine, which contributes to an increase in blood vessels and fluid retention. The animal experiences an overexcitation of the respiratory center, an increase in the secretion of saliva and sweat, which in turn leads to thickening of the blood, overload of the heart, metabolic disturbances in tissues, the functioning of the brain and kidneys.

The reasons

This disease is most susceptible sports and sled dogs, since the likelihood of edema increases in case of overheating of the animal, prolonged work without rest, running very long distances, inhaling too dusty air.

The main causes of this condition in dogs are:

Congenital pathologies of the heart.
body intoxication.
Head injury.
Thermal overheating.
Pneumonia.
Renal failure.
Snake bite.
Chest injury.
Allergy.
Electric shock.
Asphyxia.

Symptoms

Unfortunately, pulmonary edema can develop both gradually and very quickly, depending on the reasons that caused it. Symptoms can occur spontaneously or develop progressively. During pulmonary edema, the animal is in a very depressed state - it has no reaction to food, the dog is very lethargic.

The animal starts shortness of breath, and the dog opens its mouth, stretches its neck and tries to spread its paws as wide as possible in order to straighten the airways; the dog starts a strong cough, it can be with or without wheezing, breathing becomes intermittent, deep.

Gradually, the shade of the skin and mucous membranes of the dog changes, if the nose and ears had a light shade, then they begin to turn blue. From the nostrils and mouth of the animal, masses similar to emetic light pink begin to stand out, bloody foam may stand out. The dog's body temperature drops sharply, tachycardia begins.

Diagnostics

For the correct diagnosis, the veterinarian needs to know the entire clinical picture of the development of the disease. To do this, listening to the lungs of the animal is carried out, an X-ray examination is mandatory. The dog is also required to take a blood sample, and echocardiography - these studies will help identify the cause of the edema.

First aid

If the above symptoms occur, Seek veterinary care as soon as possible. However, before the arrival of the veterinarian, you can slightly alleviate the condition of the animal, if you act correctly. The dog should be in the fresh air, as it needs the maximum amount of oxygen, the dog should be in a comfortable position for him, he should constantly wipe saliva and other secretions from the nose and mouth.

Treatment

Treatment of pulmonary edema is carried out only in a medical institution. An important condition for treatment is limitation of physical activity and minimizing stressors. For the treatment of pulmonary edema, the animal is given inhalation with oxygen and drug therapy. As a rule, diuretic drugs (furosemide and mannitol), bronchodilators - eufillin, glucocorticoids are administered to the animal, sedatives can also be prescribed to stabilize the state of stress.

Depending on the severity of the dog's condition, bloodletting may be performed, glucose and calcium chloride solutions may be administered intravenously. To maintain cardiac activity, the animal is prescribed caffeine or cordiamine. If the swelling is accompanied by pneumonia, then antibiotics are added. In the case when edema is a concomitant disease, then therapy is directed to the treatment of the underlying disease.

Intensive therapy is carried out until the moment of complete stabilization of the dog's condition. This usually happens within 24-72 hours, and the dog does not need further treatment.

However, if an animal develops respiratory distress syndrome, the animal dies.

If pulmonary edema is not a secondary symptom of the underlying disease, then after the treatment, the animal will gradually fully recover and return to its previous physical form.

After the dog comes home it is very important to maintain comfortable conditions for complete rehabilitation of the animal. At first, it will be necessary to carefully monitor the dog's breathing during exercise and at rest. The room should be kept clean, well ventilated, the air temperature, preferably, should not exceed 18 degrees, the dog should not have soft bedding, feeding should be carried out strictly according to the regimen, during the rehabilitation period the dog follows a salt-free diet, stress and physical activity should be minimal.

Prevention

The best treatment for any disease is its proper prevention. It is very important that the room where the animal lives is adapted to its characteristics. Dogs that constantly experience strong physical exertion should have a good rest, they should have the opportunity to retire; it is very correct that the dog adheres to the correct diet and diet. If the dog has been found to have any diseases of the cardiovascular system, then the owner must have an appropriate first aid kit.

Pathological conditions are conditionally divided into mild, moderate and critically severe. Pulmonary edema in dogs is a critically ill condition that is considered difficult to diagnose and treat. At home, the chances of saving the animal are small. In order to prevent negative consequences if necessary, consider the possible causes, symptoms and emergency first aid for pulmonary edema.

The lungs are the main organ and part of the respiratory system of humans, animals, birds, most amphibians and reptiles. The organ is divided into two "bosoms", which consist of segments. The main functional part of the body is the alveoli, in which gas exchange occurs - oxygen is taken into the blood and carbon dioxide is removed. For the full enrichment of the body with oxygen, the alveoli are shrouded in capillaries, which, in turn, are connected with blood vessels.

The root cause of pulmonary edema is the overflow of veins, vessels and capillaries with blood. Gradually, under the influence of arterial pressure or thinning of the vascular walls, plasma and blood are released through the capillary membrane, filling the interstitial space and alveoli. Filling occurs gradually, from the bottom up, therefore, with a timely reaction of the owners, the edema is successfully diagnosed and the animal can be saved. The predominant risk group among animals is dogs and horses.

There are acute and slow course of the disease, however, they have common signs:

Depressed state- the dog is depressed, does not respond to food or treats.

The appearance of shortness of breath- the dog tries to spread its front paws wider and stretch its neck, straightening the airways and straightening the ribs, can open its mouth. In a critical condition, the same signs appear, but the dog lies on its side.

Unnatural breathing- the dog takes jerky, frequent and intense breaths, strongly spreads its nostrils. Signs of "abdominal" breathing are visible to the naked eye.

Cough- may be obvious or in the form of wheezing. It sounds like a dry "hearty" cough of people.

Discoloration of mucous membranes and skin (cyanosis) Eyelids, gums and tongue turn pale or blue. The transition to "cyanosis" occurs quite quickly. With light pigmentation, a blue nose and ears are noticeable.

Decrease in body temperature.

Discharge from nostrils and mouth- at the time of coughing or spontaneous leakage of fluid. The consistency can vary from clear with a slight pink tinge to a bloody foam.

Decreased vesicular respiration- diagnosed with a stethoscope, practically not audible with wheezing. During normal breathing, throughout the entire inhalation, an even noise is heard, reminiscent of the sound of the letter "f", with swelling it is heard only at the beginning.

Muted response when tapping the chest- is not mandatory, can be observed when falling into an extremely serious condition.

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The presence of absolutely all the signs is not mandatory, depending on the causes of the development of the pathology, additional manifestations may be observed.

When diagnosing a disease, due to the similarity of symptoms, pulmonary edema is often confused with pneumonia, asphyxia (suffocation), and impaired gas exchange.

When one or more symptoms appear, the owner must be aware that the condition is serious, regardless of the future consequences, and qualified assistance to the animal will be provided only in a veterinary clinic.

The first thing to do is to stop panicking, you need to act quickly, clearly and without emotions.

On the way to the clinic, the dog should be helped in every possible way: maintain a comfortable posture, remove excess saliva and secretions, ensure the ventilation of the vehicle and calm the animal. For a more accurate diagnosis, if the condition allows, the dog is x-rayed. With successful intensive care, the dog should be under constant supervision, on the first day or longer, if possible, the animal remains in the clinic.

After returning home, the pet needs to provide a number of conditions:

Clean, moderately cool, well ventilated area.

Bedding of medium hardness, located at a distance from climatic devices.

Minimize stress and exercise.

Timely feeding and drinking, recommendations for which are given by a veterinarian.

Medical support:

Bloodletting - carried out only by a veterinarian.

Intravenous injections of calcium chloride and glucose are done only by a specialist.

Diuretic (diuretic) drugs.

Glucocorticoids are steroids that are normally produced by the adrenal glands.

Stimulants of the heart muscle - caffeine, cordiamine or adrenaline.

Expectorants – Herbs may be used.

Sedatives - with increased excitability of the nervous system.

Antibiotics - in case of pneumonia.

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Reasons for the development of pathology

The generally accepted cause of the development of pathology is considered to be diseases associated with the cardiovascular system. However, the possible spectrum is very wide and most often, the true cause, without a serious examination, cannot be established. Distinguish between cardiogenic and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Cardiogenic pulmonary edema in dogs occurs due to increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation or heart failure. The reasons:

Congenital heart disease.

followed by an increase in the heart muscle or part of it.

Blockage of the pulmonary artery, dysfunction of the cardiac aorta or valve.

. Increased risk - childbirth; pregnant individuals experiencing toxicosis.

coronary heart disease.

Non-cardiogenic edema is not associated with the cardiovascular system, most often occurs due to thinning of the capillary tissue against the background of general disorders in the body.

From the side of the central nervous system, the reasons may be:

Head injury.
Tumor, inflammation, thrombus or cerebral hemorrhage.

From the respiratory system:

Closed and penetrating chest injuries.

Severe bronchitis or pneumonia.

Burns or tissue damage due to inhalation of poisonous chemical gases or smoke.

Choking (asphyxia).

Possible causes may be chronic renal failure or medical interventions: pulmonary edema in a dog after cervicothoracic surgery, reaction to an infusion or blood transfusion. Also, "domestic injuries" are not excluded:

Severe fear or shock.

Electric shock.

Bites of poisonous snakes or insects.

Stretching of hollow organs: esophagus, stomach, urinary or gallbladder.

Allergic reaction, drug overdose.

Pulmonary edema in dogs is common. This disease occurs because the blood in the vessels as well as the lymph flow out in violation, resulting in an unnatural accumulation of fluid, which is found in the cells, tissues.

Under such circumstances, the ability of the lungs to work sharply weakens, the animal suffers greatly. It is very difficult to determine the accuracy of the disease at home. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Etiology of the disease

The disease leads to a complete breakdown of the activity of the whole organism, since by this time all the forces and also the vital potential have already been used. In this case, without a serious examination and examination of the animal, the diagnosis is not easy to establish. This disease is caused by a variety of reasons.

There are the following types of disease: non-cardiogenic and cardiogenic pulmonary edema in dogs. It is believed that it is diseases of the cardiovascular system that easily provoke pulmonary edema. Cardiogenic edema is caused by:

congenital heart disease;
infections;
Intoxications;
Hypertension. Due to which the heart muscle increases;
coronary heart disease;
rheumatic diseases;
Severe toxicosis, childbirth;

The pulmonary artery is clogged. Because of what, the heart valves or the aorta, which work intermittently, suffer. Due to the fact that changes occur in the body, capillary tissues become thinner, non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema occurs. This type of lung tumor has nothing to do with the cardiovascular system. It will also be informative about Quincke's edema.

The reasons may be different:

anaphylactic shock;
viral diseases;
damage to the central nervous system;
head injuries;
seals or neoplasms;
cerebral hemorrhage, burns of varying degrees;
inflammation of the lungs or severe bronchitis;
gunshot or knife wounds;
poisoning with gases of any origin or smoke;
suffocation.

If the pet has undergone cervicothoracic surgery, this may be one of the causes of this disease. Non-cardiogenic edema develops with renal failure, as well as after blood transfusion. There are a number of reasons that can provoke the manifestation of this disease;

allergic reactions;
certain medicines in large quantities;
problems with the bladder or gallbladder, esophagus, or stomach;
being stung by a snake or poisonous insects;
electric shock;
long, long run;
severe overheating in the sun;
fright or shock.

Signs of Pulmonary Edema in Dogs

One of the main root causes of pulmonary edema in animals is a very large amount of blood in the veins, vessels, capillaries. With an increase in pressure or thinning of the walls of blood vessels, plasma and blood leak out. This fluid fills the interstitial space, as well as all bubble formations in the lung. This process takes place gradually.

It originates at the bottom of the lungs, then gradually rises, and the area of \u200b\u200bthe lungs becomes smaller. Because of this, the blood is not filled with oxygen properly, which leads to an insufficient amount of oxygen and oxygen starvation of the brain, heart and entire body.

To determine pulmonary edema in dogs, the symptoms of the disease will help the behavior of the animal itself. Therefore, you need to be extremely vigilant to your animal, so as not to miss the time, not to give the opportunity to develop this disease.
The disease can be rapid (acute), or it can be chronic (slow) form, for example, in renal failure. Signs of the disease:

The animal breathes very hard;
The dog's mouth is constantly open, so it breathes easier;
The favorite does not join the game, becomes lethargic;
Breathing becomes frequent;
Shortness of breath appears;
The dog spreads its front paws wide to improve breathing;
The openings in the nose widen and enlarge;
The dog starts wheezing;
The animal begins to cough;
When exhaling, foam is released from the nose of the animal, it may have a reddish tint;
A bluish tint appears on the gums, eyelids, tongue.

The doctor, listening to the dog, may not hear wheezing in the first stages of the disease. They appear when the disease progresses. Severe interruptions in the work of the heart can be heard. The symptoms of the disease are different, it is not at all necessary that they appear literally all at once. Each disease has its own characteristics, signs.

If any of the symptoms appear, you should immediately, but without panic, go to an appointment with a veterinarian. During the delivery of a sick dog, you must:

Lay the animal so that it is comfortable for him to breathe;
Stroking and calming the dog;
Remove saliva and sputum flowing from the mouth of the animal.

Diagnosis of pulmonary edema in animals

Timely diagnosis will help to recognize the disease, as well as its symptoms. A thoughtful and knowledgeable doctor will conduct a full examination of a sick dog, make a reliable diagnosis. After all, there are diseases in which the symptoms are very similar.

So, with gas exchange disorders, suffocation, pneumonia, similar signs are observed, therefore, first of all, the doctor carefully analyzes each symptom, checks the structure of the blood, pays attention to the work of the liver, how its enzymes work, looks at the saturation of creatine, urea, proteins in the blood the presence of leukocytes.

With echocardiography, the veterinarian will be able to verify that the animal does not have cardiac changes that attract pulmonary edema. And a chest x-ray should be taken if the veterinarian suspects pulmonary edema. To do this, two pictures are taken, where the projections are perpendicular to each other.

Fuzziness, enlarged roots, fuzzy tissue transparency are signs of edema. Often the anomaly covers the entire lungs. But cases when separate parts of the lungs are affected are not excluded. X-ray helps not only to establish a diagnosis, but to fix its origin.
It is necessary that the doctor accurately diagnoses, since bronchopneumonia, thromboembolism, contusion and neoplasms can also give swelling.

How is pulmonary edema in a dog treated?

The body does not receive enough oxygen because swelling has occurred in the lungs. And this is very dangerous, because at any moment such edema can give complications and lead to death. Therefore, if pulmonary edema is diagnosed in a dog, treatment is carried out only in a hospital under the strict supervision of a veterinarian.

The pet is placed in a special box, where oxygen is supplied. Instead of boxing, it is possible to use a special oxygen mask. Even a well-ventilated area will do just fine. The dog needs oxygen inhalations. This is necessary for the body to restore its strength and be filled with oxygen.

Animals are provided with conditions of complete rest and relaxation. With the help of droppers or intravenous injections, diuretics are administered, as well as drugs that improve the functioning of the respiratory system and heart. If the edema is not cardiogenic, then saline solutions are prescribed, which are administered intravenously. If necessary, at the discretion of the doctor, treatment can be continued at home. In this case, it is necessary to strictly observe the course of treatment and dosage prescribed by the veterinarian. Preparations for maintaining the body at home can be as follows:

Diuretics such as furosemide;
To maintain the work of the heart, caffeine, cordiamine are suitable;
For bloodletting, glucose or calcium chloride is used. These injections are made only by doctors and are administered intravenously;
In severe cases of the disease, glucocorticoids are prescribed. Medicines such as prednisolone should be taken with caution and in no case should the dose prescribed by the doctor be changed;
Herbal preparations are used to relieve cough.

Sedative drugs (diphenhydramine, suprastin) should be used only as prescribed by a doctor if the animal has increased excitability. If pneumonia is confirmed, then antibiotics are prescribed. After inpatient treatment, the owner must create conditions for the speedy recovery of the animal. For this you need:

So that the room where the dog will be is well ventilated, clean and not hot;
The litter should not be hard, but not very soft;
Do not arrange a place for the dog next to the battery or in a draft;
Complete and timely feeding and drinking;
The doctor prescribes the diet;
Minimum physical activity, games;
No stress.

Prognosis of lung disease

After such a serious illness, a dog can regain his strength, recover completely if he does not have heart problems. The disease may return if the animal suffers from chronic heart disease.

Please note that pulmonary edema dramatically causes a deterioration in the work of the heart, while heart failure develops very often. With pulmonary edema, there is a lack of oxygen in the body, while all internal organs suffer, and this, in turn, leads to:

collapse of the lung;
manifestation of sclerosis;
stretching of tissues and organs;
pneumonia;
blood infection.

If an animal with obvious characteristic features of pulmonary edema is not provided with timely and timely assistance, this can lead to:

lightning-fast pulmonary edema;
circulatory disorders;
violation of the contraction of the heart;
shock state;
blockage of the airways.

Toxic pulmonary edema responds well enough to treatment, but at the same time, a large number of deaths due to the rapid development of the disease.
In the form of preventive actions, it is necessary to constantly monitor the respiratory activity of your pet, keep track of respiratory movements and inspect the mucous membrane.

To provide first aid to your animal, you need to study and learn the symptoms of pulmonary edema in dogs, be able to quickly and efficiently, without panicking or getting lost, help the animal. To this end, create a home pharmacy, where you can collect all the necessary drugs to provide first aid to your pet if necessary. And also the phone number of the veterinary clinic or doctor.